Remote control means for shut-off valve



April 14, 1970 J. w. HANEY 'REMOTE CONTROL MEANS FOR SHUT-OFF VALVEFiled Aug. 25, 1966 NN @N WWW:

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` United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 137-624.11 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A shut-off control system which automatically operates underpressure with a preset device having a normally closed circuit from anelectrical source to energize it and which is automatically opened whena Water line is subjected to rising pressures due to the closure of afaucet.

The present invention relates to a shut-off control system includingremote control means for a shut-off valve, and more particularly, theinvention relates to a shutaoif control system in which automaticallyoperated and pressure preset devices which are electrically operatedVremotely by control means in which a normally closed circuit from anelectrical source is automatically opened when a water line is subjectedto rising pressures due to the closure of a faucet.

An object therefore of the present invention is to provide a remotecontrol for a spigot or faucet, so that when the faucet or spigot isclosed, the pressure on the line is reduced by closure upstream of thespigot or faucet, of a solenoid so that the water pressure projectedupon the faucet or spigot valve is substantially and effectivelyreduced.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shutoffcontrol system for water valves that may be separately coin-operable ractuable, and which are capable of being auXiliarily manually operablefrom the faucet.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved pressure control shutoff control system that is remotelyoperable by'electric circuit means.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon full consideration of the following detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a circuit diagram showing the shutoff control system priorto actuation in accordance with a preferred embodiment and constructionof the invention, and

FIGURE 2 shows a circuit diagram showing the circuit of the remoteshutoff control system in operation after having been initiated bydepression of a pushbutton switch in accordance with the teachings andadvantages of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a water main or pipehaving a solenoid valve 12 which is normally closed and disposed incommunication with the pipe 10 and in which there is also a pressuresensitive switch means 14 which is normally open in communication withthe line 10, and there is shown a faucet or spigot 16 at the terminalend of the main or pipe 10.

There is also provided in connection and as adjunct to the shutoffcontrol system ofthe invention, a power source 20 compris-ing a pair ofterminals or conductors providing 120 volts of 6.0 cycle house currentor the like, and in which is connected thereto a transformer 22 forstepping down the current and characteristics to a rectifier 26 whichprovides 24 volts of electrical energy to the power lines 30. Across thelines 30 there is connected a push button 32 and a start relay orsolenoid 34 which is provided to energize the solenoid valve 12 uponenergization of the start relay 34 by means of the relay contacts andswitch ICC 36. In this way, upon depression of the push button switch32, the momentary depression provides conduction across the contacts 38of the push ibutton switch 32 and forms a series circuit across theterminals 30 from the contacts 38, 38 to the start relay 34 to the otherside of the line 30'. In this way the start relay is energized and thecontacts and switch 36 is closed for energizing the solenoid valve 12.Upon release of' the push button 32, the delayed opening of 36 providesa current across the other contacts 42, 42 of the push button switch,and conduction continues across the contacts and switch 36 to energizethe solenoid relay valve 12. Actuation of the solenoid valve 12 opensthe line 10 so that water is communicated through the `main 10 to thespigot 16 which has been opened manually prior to actuation of the pushbutton switch 32.

It is seen by the passage of Water through and beyond the pressuresensitive switch means 14 that the switch contacts 48 are closed asshown in FIGURE 2 upon passage of water therethrough, similar to theclosing of a solenoid such as used in disposal systems for kitchen sinksin Iwhich the disposal is actuated upon the flow of cold water therein.The switch means 14 and contacts 48 are similar further to a pressureresponsive flow switch of a Reid Patent 2,772,409. Therefore, uponclosure of the switch `48, there is provided a holding circuit acrossthe lines 30 through the contacts 48 and the start relay 34 so that itis maintained energized and across the mains or lines 30. In this way,water continues to flow through the main 10 to the spigot or faucet 16as desired. Upon the condition prevailing where sufficient Water hasbeen drawn off, then the spigot 16 may be closed manually. Upon manuallyc'losing `the spigot 16, the pressure sensitive switch means 14 isactuated to open the electrical contacts 48 so that the switch hereof isopened and the start relay 34 is deenergized. Deenergization of startrelay 34 causes the relay swi-tch 36 to correspondingly open as shown inFIGURE l and the initial or static condition of the system is againreached. This includes the solenoid valve 12 again closing so that wateris not caused to ow through the pipe 10 to the faucet 16. T'hus it isseen that the remote control shutoff control system for water valves isa simply constructed system and is adaptable to be used in installationswhere there are coin operable water spigot control systems, or where itis desired to control the use of water in arid or drought areas such asNew York City and the like. It is also within the purview of thisapplication and invention to use a shorting element across the normallyclosed contacts of pushbutton 32 so that the contacts 36 need be theonly switch in that line across power lines 32 that need be closed uponstarting the shutoff control system.

It may also be within the purview and contemplation of the presentinvention to arrange the solenoid 12 and the pressure sensitive switchmeans 14 so that their con'- tacts are in series relation across thelines 30 and in which there may be a push button switch to momentarilyshunt out the contacts 48, and thus eliminate most if not all of theremainder of the control system.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specication will occurto others and therefore it is intended that the scope of the inventionbe limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodimentsdescribed hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made =to thefollowing claims in determining the full scope of the of the start relayby said push-button switch, a holding circuit connected from saidpush-button switch to said source terminals and including contacts of apressure sensitive switch means which is connected downstream of saidsolenoid valve, and said pressure sensitive switch means holding itscontacts closed until static water pressure is applied to the pressuresensitive switch means when said contacts then open, and thereby holdingin circuit the start relay so that the solenoid Valve is continued inits energized state, and a faucet at the end of said water line adaptedto be manually closed, so that when the faucet is closed, the solenoidvalve is electrically de-energized upon said static pressure beingapplied to said pressure sensitive switch means to open its contacts as-a result of pressure rise in said Water line.

2. A shut-off control system comprising a water line, a start relayhaving a start switch, a serial arrangement in said water line of asolenoid valve, a pressure sensitive switch means, and a faucet at theterminal end of the Water line, said solenoid valve and said pressuresensitive switch means adapted to be connected in parallel upondepression and closure of a pushbutton switch,

closure of said start switch and upon passage of Water through saidwater line through the open faucet, closure means on said faucet and,upon release of the pushbutton switch and closure of the faucet closuremeans, the contacts of said pressure sensitive switch means break theclosed circuit formed between the start relay and the pressure sensitiveswitch means so that the water in said line is turned off by thesolenoid valve of the control system thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,173,966 2/1916 Hinkson 137-4591,879,545 9/1932 Seely 137-486 2,596,691 5/1952 Jackson et al. 137-486XR 3,258,027 6/1966` Willis 137-458 ROBERT G. NILSON, Primary ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R. 137-459, 613

